S. Kivity et al., MITE ASTHMA IN CHILDHOOD - A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPOSURE TO HOUSE DUST MITES AND DISEASE-ACTIVITY, Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 91(4), 1993, pp. 844-849
Background: Children with asthma are commonly sensitized to the house
dust mite. Methods: We took monthly measurements from July to December
of the amount of mites in the mattresses of asthmatic children and co
rrelated them with symptom score, pulmonary function, and airway hyper
reactivity to methacholine. Results: In spite of the high number of De
rmatophagoides pteronyssinus throughout this period, symptom and treat
ment scores, as well as PC20 to methacholine, worsened during the mont
hs of September and October. Conclusions: It is concluded that when as
thmatic children allergic to mites are exposed to high levels of mite
allergen, the number of mites in the mattress dust no longer correlate
with increased symptoms, and that other factors are more likely to be
associated with exacerbation.